Richard Milhouse Nixon
(January 9, 1913 - April 22, 1994)
Political Party: Republican
Terms: (1969-1973) and (1973-1974)
Vice Presidents : Spiro Agnew (1969-1973), Gerald Ford (1973-1974)
Although Richard Nixon’s administration is usually associated with scandal, there were some positives to come out of it as well. Creating the Vietnamization program, improving relations with China and the USSR, and working to help the environment are prime examples of these positives. Tricky Dick receives a C- only because the Watergate Scandal caused him to shamefully resign.
Based off his Inaugural Addresses, Nixon’s main goals were to end the Vietnam war and improve foreign affairs with China and the USSR. The Vietnam war was largely unpopular, and Nixon would reduce US involvement by kicking off the Vietnamization program. The Nixon Doctrine called for a reduction of troops in Asia, and South Vietnamese troops were trained so they could fend for themselves. The amount of troops diminished drastically from 1970-1972. Nixon pulled out of Vietnam completely with the peace agreement signed in Oaris in 1973. However, North and South Vietnam would resume fighting shortly and finish with communist victory. Nixon accomplished his goals by making advances in foreign relations with China and the USSR. Being the first President to travel to China, Nixon supported the Chinese addition the United Nations. He worked with the USSR to ban weapon development and ban nuclear weapons from international waters. Nixon achieved his goals of being President, but the Watergate Scandal would get in the way.
Nixon was faced with dealing with the 91st, 92nd, and part of the 93rd Congress during his administration. Throughout this time, there were always democratic majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Despite this, there was plenty of legislation passed during Nixon’s terms. Some of this included environmental protection, law enforcement, drug trafficking, and consumer safety laws. Law enforcement was greatly increased by more severe punishment for crimes, cracking down on drug abuse, and allowing the police to break in without warning to find drug paraphernalia. The amount of bills Nixon vetoed is fairly low, representing an adequate relationship with Congress.
The best decisions to come out of Richard Nixon's administration was passing legislation advocating the protection of the environment. This started with the Environmental Quality Policy Act of 1969, which called for an impact statement for each new federal program. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was created so that pollution could be monitored and reduced. Oil rigs, tankers, and nuclear power plants were ordered to lessen water pollution under the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970. Air standards were set by the National Air Standards Quality Act of 1970, which every state had to meet. Recycling, bolstered by the Resource Recovery Act of 1970 was called for in the late 1960's. Conservation is still a huge part of America today, evident by everyone going green. Legislation passed under Nixon was greatly influential to the green movement and conservation in general. Improvements made by Nixon include curbing water pollution, encouraging recycling, pushing for cleaner air, and creating the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Watergate Scandal is what plagued Nixon into resigning from the Presidency and the incarceration of many of his officials. This is indefinitely the most negative outcome of his terms. During the 1972 election process, Nixon had "burglers" break into the Watergate Complex in DC, the headquarters for the Democratic National Committee. The burglers were instructed to wiretap rooms where the Democrat officials were staying to gain insight on the election. At first, it was unsure as to whether or not Nixon was involved, but later tapes were found of Tricky Dick being briefed on what had happened. Refusing to give up the tapes, the Supreme Court unanimously ordered him to turn them in. Nixon complied, but there was 18 minutes of sound destroyed from the tapes. Impeachment was imminent, so Nixon was the first President to resign on August 9, 1974. As it turned out, this was not the only scandal Nixon took part in, and people began to see his Presidency as "above the law." After the President tried to cover his own lies, the people of America would start to closely examine their elected officials. Easily defaming Nixon, the Watergate Scandal was the worst decision to come out his administration.
The first man to ever step on the moon was American Astronaut Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969. The raging Cold War inspired a space race centered around reaching the moon. This was influential to the American people and future generations because it brought together the nation during a time of separation, and brought on great advancements in technology and education. Broadcasting Neil Armstrong making a "giant leap for mankind" on national TV gave Americans a sense of nationality instead of controversy over the Vietnam War. Other advancements made from the space race and moon landing were astonishing at home and abroad. The education system took a turn for the better by putting a greater emphasis on physics, advance mathematics, and installing planetariums in some schools. "Space age technology" is still present today, such as the satellites needed for Global Positioning Systems. Environmental protection was also influenced by the space age after the astronauts could see Earth from space and realized that we need to protect it. Earth day was a resulting holiday from such expenditures as Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.
In conclusion, Richard Nixon had sound policies but was ruined by scandal. If it were not for the scandals, America would have been much better off after his administration. Ending the Vietnam war, promoting relations with China and the USSR, and protecting the environment contribute to the grade of C-. Nixon did everything in his power to make America a better place for it's people.
Works Cited:
Gregorio, William A... The complete book of U.S. presidents . 7th ed. New York [etc.: Wings Books, 2009. Print.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. The American pageant: a history of the Republic. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Print.
"Richard M. Nixon | The White House." N.p.,n.d. Web. 23 Dec 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/richardnixon>.
(January 9, 1913 - April 22, 1994)
Political Party: Republican
Terms: (1969-1973) and (1973-1974)
Vice Presidents : Spiro Agnew (1969-1973), Gerald Ford (1973-1974)
Although Richard Nixon’s administration is usually associated with scandal, there were some positives to come out of it as well. Creating the Vietnamization program, improving relations with China and the USSR, and working to help the environment are prime examples of these positives. Tricky Dick receives a C- only because the Watergate Scandal caused him to shamefully resign.
Based off his Inaugural Addresses, Nixon’s main goals were to end the Vietnam war and improve foreign affairs with China and the USSR. The Vietnam war was largely unpopular, and Nixon would reduce US involvement by kicking off the Vietnamization program. The Nixon Doctrine called for a reduction of troops in Asia, and South Vietnamese troops were trained so they could fend for themselves. The amount of troops diminished drastically from 1970-1972. Nixon pulled out of Vietnam completely with the peace agreement signed in Oaris in 1973. However, North and South Vietnam would resume fighting shortly and finish with communist victory. Nixon accomplished his goals by making advances in foreign relations with China and the USSR. Being the first President to travel to China, Nixon supported the Chinese addition the United Nations. He worked with the USSR to ban weapon development and ban nuclear weapons from international waters. Nixon achieved his goals of being President, but the Watergate Scandal would get in the way.
Nixon was faced with dealing with the 91st, 92nd, and part of the 93rd Congress during his administration. Throughout this time, there were always democratic majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Despite this, there was plenty of legislation passed during Nixon’s terms. Some of this included environmental protection, law enforcement, drug trafficking, and consumer safety laws. Law enforcement was greatly increased by more severe punishment for crimes, cracking down on drug abuse, and allowing the police to break in without warning to find drug paraphernalia. The amount of bills Nixon vetoed is fairly low, representing an adequate relationship with Congress.
The best decisions to come out of Richard Nixon's administration was passing legislation advocating the protection of the environment. This started with the Environmental Quality Policy Act of 1969, which called for an impact statement for each new federal program. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) was created so that pollution could be monitored and reduced. Oil rigs, tankers, and nuclear power plants were ordered to lessen water pollution under the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970. Air standards were set by the National Air Standards Quality Act of 1970, which every state had to meet. Recycling, bolstered by the Resource Recovery Act of 1970 was called for in the late 1960's. Conservation is still a huge part of America today, evident by everyone going green. Legislation passed under Nixon was greatly influential to the green movement and conservation in general. Improvements made by Nixon include curbing water pollution, encouraging recycling, pushing for cleaner air, and creating the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Watergate Scandal is what plagued Nixon into resigning from the Presidency and the incarceration of many of his officials. This is indefinitely the most negative outcome of his terms. During the 1972 election process, Nixon had "burglers" break into the Watergate Complex in DC, the headquarters for the Democratic National Committee. The burglers were instructed to wiretap rooms where the Democrat officials were staying to gain insight on the election. At first, it was unsure as to whether or not Nixon was involved, but later tapes were found of Tricky Dick being briefed on what had happened. Refusing to give up the tapes, the Supreme Court unanimously ordered him to turn them in. Nixon complied, but there was 18 minutes of sound destroyed from the tapes. Impeachment was imminent, so Nixon was the first President to resign on August 9, 1974. As it turned out, this was not the only scandal Nixon took part in, and people began to see his Presidency as "above the law." After the President tried to cover his own lies, the people of America would start to closely examine their elected officials. Easily defaming Nixon, the Watergate Scandal was the worst decision to come out his administration.
The first man to ever step on the moon was American Astronaut Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969. The raging Cold War inspired a space race centered around reaching the moon. This was influential to the American people and future generations because it brought together the nation during a time of separation, and brought on great advancements in technology and education. Broadcasting Neil Armstrong making a "giant leap for mankind" on national TV gave Americans a sense of nationality instead of controversy over the Vietnam War. Other advancements made from the space race and moon landing were astonishing at home and abroad. The education system took a turn for the better by putting a greater emphasis on physics, advance mathematics, and installing planetariums in some schools. "Space age technology" is still present today, such as the satellites needed for Global Positioning Systems. Environmental protection was also influenced by the space age after the astronauts could see Earth from space and realized that we need to protect it. Earth day was a resulting holiday from such expenditures as Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.
In conclusion, Richard Nixon had sound policies but was ruined by scandal. If it were not for the scandals, America would have been much better off after his administration. Ending the Vietnam war, promoting relations with China and the USSR, and protecting the environment contribute to the grade of C-. Nixon did everything in his power to make America a better place for it's people.
Works Cited:
Gregorio, William A... The complete book of U.S. presidents . 7th ed. New York [etc.: Wings Books, 2009. Print.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. The American pageant: a history of the Republic. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Print.
"Richard M. Nixon | The White House." N.p.,n.d. Web. 23 Dec 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/richardnixon>.